Emotional farewell between coach, players

PHILADELPHIA - After Andy Reid learned that he'd no longer be head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles Monday morning, he met with his team.

His message, not surprisingly, was direct.

"He just came in and told us," said quarterback Nick Foles. "He told us what happened, and like Coach Reid's style it was straight to the point. It's tough, because we all love the man."

"Coach, he was emotional, so he really didn't say too much," said quarterback Michael Vick. "There really wasn't too much to be said."

Most of the players on the roster had never played an NFL game for another coach. For Jason Avant, a 2006 draft pick who has been with the team longer than all but three players, the end was painful.

"It definitely hurt," said Avant. "I was probably the last guy to leave out of the meeting room. When you think about it, he definitely meant a lot to me. Me being a fourth-round draft pick - he can't run, he can't do this, can't do that, can't create separation - and you have a coach like Coach Reid who didn't care about that. He saw through it. So he always has a special place in my heart."

"It was emotional, to sum it up," said guard Evan Mathis. "I think this whole team, we kind of feel like we put his job in jeopardy. If we don't feel that way, we should."

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said that despite multiple reports that Reid would be dismissed, he was "hoping for the best" prior to the meeting. Maclin, the team's top draft pick in 2009, didn't buy into the notion that a change was needed to give the team a fresh start following a 4-12 season.

"I was a Coach Reid guy," said Maclin. "He said he loved us and he hopes that whoever becomes the new head coach, that we accept him and buy into what he's asking."

Vick, whose career was revived by Reid when the head coach took him on following his release from prison in 2009, said he'll remain close to Reid.

"I'm very thankful that I had him in my life for the last four years, and I'm really gonna miss him," said Vick. "But I'll definitely stay in contact with him and the relationship and the friendship is never ending, and I appreciate that and I thank God for that."

Avant said he hadn't yet had a chance to talk to Reid personally, but planned to go to see him after cleaning out his locker stall.

"I'll tell him he did a great job in representing his family and this city with great pride and great dignity," said Avant. "He's one of those guys that at the end of the day, he can look in the mirror and be proud of the job that he's done over these 14 years."